Autoimmunity

Autoimmune diseases affect 5-7% of the world’s population, representing the third most common cause of morbidity in developed countries (after cardiovascular disease and cancer). Virtually any molecule in the body may act as an auto-antigen and induce an autoimmune reaction, meaning that the range of detectable auto-antibodies is very wide. Auto-antigens may be expressed in cells distributed throughout the body (non-organ-specific diseases) or in only in a specific part of a given organ. In some pathological situations, auto-antibodies are extremely sensitive markers which can be detected months or even years before the onset of symptoms.

TESTING

Eurofins Biomnis can test for hundreds of different auto-antibodies, including some that are rare or only recently characterised.

Auto-antibodies can be detected either by indirect immunofluorescence on cell smears (transfected Hep2 cells, neutrophils) or tissue sections (pancreas, adrenal gland, oesophagus, etc.), or directly by automated immunoassays, whereas others can be typed by immunoblotting.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Eurofins Biomnis in France possesses an extensive serum library and actively participates in the evaluation and validation of reagents and instruments. It has also developed collaborations with University Hospital departments to characterise the clinical significance of certain auto-antibodies.